Toy rifle.



0. C. MADISON.

TOY RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1915.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Z Q QM'C flttomug OLIVER C. MADISON, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

TOY RIFLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916..

Application filed May 27, 1915. Serial No, 30,845.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, OLIVER C. MADISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Rifles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in toy rifles of the class adapted to throw a projectile from a rectilinear rod, guide or barrel by means of a spiral spring operated by a combined catch and trigger.

The invention has especial reference to the provision of means for preventing a lateral swinging movement of the catch after it engages the projectile, the provision of a combined catch and trigger so constructed that the facet of the catch will move substantially at right angles from the barrel when the trigger is actuated and will not at that time cause the projectile to be moved rearwardly, and to dispose the catch forwardly of the breech a sufficient distance so that a spiral spring of unusual length may be employed.

The invention also has reference to the provision of a mainspring so constructed and arranged that the frame of the stock and spring may have the same diameter, to thereby provide economy in manufacture.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, wherein,--

Figure 1 is a side view of a toy rifle embodying the invention' Figs. 2, 3 and 4: are broken views on an enlarged scale, showing details relating to Fig. 1. Fig/2 shows the catch in engagement with the projectile, the latter being in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 shows the fulcrum or detent member in longitudinal section, mounted on the ma nspring and operating arm of the catch. Fig. 41 is a transverse section through the breech.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, the toy rifle consists, in part, of a single strand or wire preferably of steel and of uniform diameter having a terminal part a. secured by use of solder in the cylindrical breech or casing 4, preferably constructed of sheet metal, and bent to form a stock 5 conforming to the shape or contour of an ordinary rifle stock, the wire forming the lower part of the stock having a part 6 extending forwardly parallel with part a and traversing the easing 4. The wire is then bent downwardly and rearwardly to provide a curved mainspring 6 and an arm or extension 7 therefor normally disposed parallel with the cylindrical member-4 and wire portions a and b and traversing the detent-member, sleeve or fulcrum 8 to which it is preferably soldered; and from arm or extension 7 it is bent to form a downwardly projecting loop or trigger 9, the remaining part of the wire projecting forwardly from the loop below and adjacent to arm 7 while seated within but not connected to sleeve 8 to provide an operating arm 10 having an upwardly projecting part 11 disposed intermediate the ends of the rifle barrel- 16 and provided with a facet 12 disposed parallel with its longitudinal axis opening on its end and having an inclined facet 13 projecting upwardly to meet the terminal of facet 12 and providing the catch or contact lug 14 for engagement with the projectile 15.

As usual in toy rifles of this class, the projectile is provided with a bore 0 of sufficient area to permit it to slide on the rectangular guide or barrel 16. The barrel may have any suitable length and its inner end is disposed in the casing above the terminal portion a of the wire, and preferably is secured to the casing by use of solder. At 17 is indicated a spiral spring mounted upon the inner part of the barrel, its inner end preferably being secured to the breech or casing.

The projectile has the shape of atruncated cone, its base 01 providing a flat contact surface. When the projectile is placed on the barrel it may be manually moved rearwardly thereon against the resistance of the spiral spring until the facet 12 of the catch engages the front end or base of the projectile as shown in Fig. 2, arm 10 being pressed downwardly to a limited extent and spring 6 also being actuated by the contact of lug 1 1 with the conical wall of the projectile while said projectile is moved to this position, the actuation of spring 6 being caused by operation of sleeve 8 which engages the extension 7 and arm 10.

It will be noted that by the construction described, arm 10 may have an adequate length so that the catch may be disposed forwardly a considerable distance, comparatively, from the breech, for engagement with the projectile, and thereby permitting the use of a comparatively long spiral spring.

On account of the elasticity of arm 10, if sleeve 8 is not employed, itmay be pressed downwardly by the n'essure of the projectile against catch 11 in a manner to cause the catch to be prematurely released; and from vibration of parts incident to the use of the toy, if sleeve 8 is omitted, arm 10 may have a sidewise swinging movement to cause the .seating of its catch to become displaced from the projectile, but by use of the present construction, sleeve 8 prevents any undue movement of arm 10 unless spring 6 is actuated, and prevents a lateral swinging movement of said arm 10; and it has been found that the device would not be practically operative if the sleeve was omitted.

To discharge the projectile it will be understood that the loop or trigger 9 is moved rearwardly by manual pressure, in a well known manner. lVhen a rearward pressure is applied to the loop, spring 6 will be actuated and the loop will swing upwardly. During this movement extension 7 and arm 10 will remain stationary with respect to' each other for the reason that sleeve 8 operates as a fulcrum or detent for arm 10, and this is a desirable feature, for if the sleeve 8 was omitted,'and if members 7 and 10 could have movements relative to each other, the projectile would be too easily or readily discharged or released, and the device would not be practically operative unless a different catch was provided than the one described. By use of the sleeve 8 in connection with members 7 and 10, the projectile is adequately held by the catch, and a very limited movement of the trigger is all that is required for a discharge or release of the projectile.

In addition to the advantages already mentioned to be derived by use of the construction, it will be noted that the wire which forms the mainspring, trigger, catch and stock may be of uniform diameter, no reduced parts or notches, which entails a considerable expense in manufacture, being required. In the present construction, the spring6 is considered to be an important feature since it is the best adapted for producing the required operation. The leverage provided by the trigger is so great that the wire may have a considerable diameter, comparatively, and regardless of the diameter of the resilient wire employed, the detent member 8 will operate as'a fulcrum so that arm 10 will move uniformly with arm 7 of the mainspring for discharging the functions mentioned.

Having described, the several parts and their uses, a further explanation relating to operation is not necessary.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a toy rifle, the combination of a breech member formed as a cylindrical casing, a barrel member consisting of a rectilinearrod disposed parallel with and projecting forwardly of the casing while mounted therein, a spiral spring carried by I: said rod and a hollow cone shaped projectile adapted to be moved for retracting the spiral spring while circumscribing said rod,

a wire of uniform diameter having an end portion disposed in said casing and extended to form a stock with a forwardly projecting portion disposed within and bent downwardly at the front end of the casing to form acurved mainspring with a rearwardly extending arm disposed below and 83 substantially parallel with said casing, and bent to provide a trigger member formed as a loop extending below and rearwardy from the arm of said mainspring, and extended forwardly from the loop to provide an 83 operating arm with an upwardly bent terminal portion disposed below and intermediate the ends of said rod to provide a catch for engaging the base of said projectile when the spiral spring is retracted, and a sleeve :"3

engaging the rearwardly extending arm of said mainspring and the forwardly extending operating arm for maintaining said last named arms parallel when the trigger is actuated.

2. In a toy rifle, the combination of a breech member formed as a cylindrical casing, a barrel member consisting of a rectilinear rod disposed parallel with and projecting forwardly of the casing while mounted therein, a spiral spring on said rod connected with the casing and a hollow cone shaped projectile adapted to be moved for compressing the spiral spring while circumscribing said rod, a wire of uniform 1 diameter having an end portion disposed in said casing and extended to form a stock with a forwardly projecting portion disposed within and bent downwardly at the front end of the casing to form acurved mainspring with a rearwardly extending arm disposed below and substantially parallelwith said casing and bent to form a loop extending below and rearwardly from the arm of said mainspring to provide a trigger, and extended forwardly from the loop to provide anoperating arm with an upwardly bent portion disposed below and intermediate the ends of said rod to provide a terminal facet disposed parallel with its longitudinal axis for engaging the base of said projectile when the spiral spring is compressed, and means connected with the rearwardly extending arm of said mainspring and engaging said forwardly extending operating arm for maintaining said arms stationary with respect to each other when the trigger is actuated.

3. A toy rifle, comprising, in combination with a stock provided with a cylindrical 13c breech, a rectilinear rod mounted upon and projecting forwardly from the breech, a spiral spring carried by said rod and a projectile adapted to have a slidable movement 5 on said rod for compressing said spiral spring, an elastic metallic strand of uniform diameter mounted in said cylindrical. breech and bent to provide a curved mainspring projecting forwardly and having a rearwardly extending arm disposed below and substantially parallel with said cylindrical breech, and bent to the form of a loop to provide a trigger projecting from and below said rearwardly extending arm, and extending forwardly from said loop adjacent to said rearwardly extending arm to provide an operating arm with an upwardly projecting part disposed intermediate the ends of said rod to provide a catch for engagement with said projectile, and a member mounted on the rearwardly extending arm of the mainspring to provide a fulcrum for said operating arm.

4. A toy rifle, comprising, in combination with a stock provided with a cylindrical casing at its mner end, a rectilinear rod mounted upon and projecting forwardly from the casing, a spiral spring upon said rod and a projectile adapted to have a slidable movement on the rod for compressing the spiral spring, an elastic wire of uniform diameter mounted in'said casing and bent to provide a curved mainspring projecting forwardly and having a rearwardly extending arm disposed below said casing, and $5 bent in the form of a loop to provide a trigger projecting below and rearwardly from the arm of the mainspring, and extended forwardly from said loop adjacent to and below the mainspring to provide an op- 40 crating arm with an upwardly projecting part disposed below and intermediate the ends of said rod to provide a catch for engagement with said projectile, and a member mounted on the arm of the mainspring to provide a fulcrum for said operating arm. In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, OLIVER C. MADISON. Witnesses: Y

HIRAM A. STURGES, L. M. THOMAS. 

